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The themed programme will present authors who became famous with films about real events, as well as new authors who question the position of individuals whose lives have been marked by trauma from the recent past. “The aim of the program is to initiate dialogue in the countries formed from the disintegration of former Yugoslavia and to deal with problems arising as a result of the wars in the region,” write organisers.

Running September 6-12, the 13th edition opens with Miko Revereza's Nowhere Near. Venues include the Barbican, Bertha DocHouse, Close-Up Film Centre, Curzon Soho, Genesis Cinema, Institute of Contemporary Arts, LUX, Rich Mix, Tate Modern and the Festival Hub in China Town (Soho). “Festivals like Open City offer a bridge between the filmmakers and audiences of the past, the present and the future,” write organisers.

Jess Search, co-founder and co-director of Doc Society, has died aged 54 following her recent diagnosis of brain cancer. Search’s death was announced August 2 by the organisation. She is survived by her partner, Finzi, and their two children, Ella and Ben.

The London-based sales agent has announced its acquisition for international sales of Nemanja Vojinović’s ‘western’ documentary Bottlemen. The Serbian-Slovenian film will world premiere at the upcoming Sarajevo Film Festival in Documentary competition, where it will compete for the Heart of Sarajevo award.

The major doc thrust of the 76th Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland) is found in the Semaine de la critique programme, founded in 1990 and this year presenting seven new documentaries, five of which are world premieres. Three prizes are up for grabs including the Grand Prix Semaine de la critique, valued at 5000 CHF. Locarno commences August 2, running through to August 12.

As of September 1 Korteweg will, with Artistic Director Margje de Koning, head up the organisation behind Amsterdam-based MtM, one of the world’s foremost human rights film festivals. Korteweg previously worked as Director Exhibitions at World Press Photo. He succeeds Ali Remmelts, who left the organisation in June, after 15 years. “Laurens understands like no other the power and impact of images and stories,” says de Koning.

Directed by Nenad Čičin-Šain and written by Čičin-Šain and Bill Carter, the film showcases the struggle of the citizens of Sarajevo during the city’s siege during the Bosnian War and the post-war concert performed by U2 “to help shine a light when the world wasn't paying attention.” The film is produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for Pearl Street Films and Sarah Anthony for Good Wolves Productions.

The Vektor VR 2023 programme takes place within the framework of the Verzió Film Festival (Budapest), which celebrates is 20th edition November 22-29. The festival is looking for VR creatives whose work “delves deeper into our senses, methods of comprehension, and modes of interaction.” Additionally, the deadline for Verzió Young Documentary Film Critics Workshop (Nov 21-25) is September 8.

The Chilean/German Malqueridas by Tana Gilbert plays in Competition while Andres Peyrot’s God Is a Woman (France, Switzerland, Panama) will open the section. The Italian doc Passione critica by Simone Isola, Franco Montini, Patrizia Pistagnesi gets a Special Screening. Venice Critics Week runs 30 August to September 9. Malqueridas will compete for the Grand Prize of €5000 and the Audience Prize (€3000).

The Forum (24-26 Sept 2023) is the annual meeting place and funding event for Nordic doc professionals, looking to connect with a variety of Nordic and international decision-makers from TV, film institutes and regional film funds. 24 new documentary projects will be pitched to approx 70 attending decision-makers and 24 Observer+ projects have been selected for special access to meetings with the same decision-makers.